Some of you are probably wondering where the sweaters and quilts are. I have them (some), but today, let's talk about quilts since I haven't really done that and it's March. The first quilt I am trotting out is a small test quilt I made (pretend like the quilt is on a white wall or that the background fabric is not the same color as my family room wall. Apparently, beige is the color of my life right now). It's a little wonky (the way the quilt is hung on the wall exacerbates the wonkiness) and has some minor imperfections. It doesn't really matter. The whole point of this quilt was to practice quilting on a quilting frame.
I spent the last year buying a mid-arm quilt frame system. Instead of buying a package like a normal person, I bought the components of my frame over the course of a year because...well, that's how I do things, apparently.
I bought the frame first...and then I stained it. As quilting frames go, I have found Grace frames to be 1) affordable, 2) reliable, and 3) well supported (the customer service is beyond fantastic). I think it does need to be said that I am in no way affiliated with the company (aside from being a customer), nor am I am paid endorser of the company or its products, okay, so now that that's out of the way... The frame is sturdy. It holds a sewing machine and it works! Regarding equipment of any scale, I am sort of like the Dyson man, I feel like th thing should just work.
The reason it took so long for me to get this thing operational is the sewing machine situation. I thought I would use a machine I already owned on it...but then thought better of it, so bought another machine (a Juki--it's a workhorse), but then I needed a new carriage (the carriages are machine specific, fyi). I was getting a new carriage at the same time as the Grace company started making aluminum pro carriages (as opposed to the wooden carriage)...so I ended up having to send a carriage back and getting a new one (well, I didn't have to, but that's what the company offered to do for me...see, they are good like that).
And then I tested a Juki/frame set up at the International Quilt Festival last year and realized that my quilt-frame life would not be complete without a stitch regulator. K got that for me for Christmas because he just became annoyed with the monster in the room. Seriously, it's huge. I have the queen set up (I now wish that I got the king set up (I bought this well before the new versions that can easily convert came out)--learn from my mistake. If you can accommodate a king set up, get the king set up).
So I practiced.
And then I practiced some more.
And then I thought I would try a quilt.
I love this thing (the quilt frame...the quilt, like I said, was just a practice piece--I like it, but am not enamored).
And that's why I feel pretty confident that I will finish 24 (not 48) quilts this year. They won't all be quilted on the frame...but well, most of them will. I am okay with that. So one down, 23 to go.
Wow, cool. Quilting is pretty much foreign territory for me -- I adore them, just haven't been driven (yet) to make one -- so I had no idea that you could even get something like that for use at home! I love some of your practicing!
Posted by: Vicki | March 15, 2012 at 12:31 PM
I love that practice piece w/ white on red. I still have my practice piece from when I rented some time on a long-arm. I think I may even have bound it. :) YAY MORE QUILTS!
Posted by: carolyn | March 15, 2012 at 01:03 PM
So, let me get this straight. You basically built a long-arm??? Wow. That's amazing! And your quilting looks amazing!
Posted by: Jacey | March 15, 2012 at 03:02 PM
I've never heard of such a contraption, so I certainly have to commend you for buying it and putting it together as you did. Plus your practice quilt looks great! I can't wait to see your other creations.
Posted by: Polly | March 15, 2012 at 11:26 PM
I know nothing about this and so googled my way to videos showing how it works. Day-um! That is some SERIOUS equipment. I thought (from your pictures) that you'd take the handles and just "drive" it yourself, but I see that it can be programmed do a bit more than that! A stitch regulator (I know what that is, actually) sounds like a VERY good co-investment.
Posted by: June | March 16, 2012 at 04:08 PM
That quilting machine is so awesome! Your practices are so neat. I can't even wrap my head around how it works, it looks like it has handles so do you move the whole machine? Either way it's neat. Yay for craftiness!
Posted by: Preita | March 17, 2012 at 12:03 PM